SEZ MESS
SEZ units will quaff much water
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Even as scientific reports assert that the existing water resources are insufficient to meet the potential water demand, the three notified Special Economic Zones would be an additional burden.
Information sought under RTI and available with anti SEZ activists reveals that in their application K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd had stated that their per day water requirement would be 40 lakh litres per day, while ‘under formation’ Peninsula Research Centre Pvt Ltd’s requirement of water would be 25,000 litres daily. Interestingly, Meditab never filled out the application form, but sent only a letter. Hence no details about their daily water requirement are available.
The summary report on the Study on Augmentation of Water Supply and Sanitation for the Goa state prepared by Japan International Co-operation Agency states that there is a clear need for additional water supply in Goa, especially for cities, industrial estates and tourism resorts in the southern districts of Goa. Two of the SEZs are in South Goa.
According to the report, Goa gets a total of 391 million litres daily (MLD) from the 12 water treatment plants in the state. Mormugao taluka, where these SEZs will be situated, gets water from Selaulim water treatment plant, which also supplies 160 MLD to three other talukas in the South.
Tiswadi and Ponda receive their share of water from Opa which releases 112 MLD of water. The report states, “the PWD is currently facing a number of technical problems across Goa’s water supply schemes, extending from the water source to service connections.”
The report further states, “The current average per capita consumption for urban areas is currently 144 litres per capita per day (lpcd) and for rural areas is 88 lpcd”.
It adds that the current per capita consumption for urban and rural areas in the state already exceeds the standard consumption rate of 135 lpcd in urban areas and 70 lpcd in rural areas.
However, most importat is the following sentence in the report: “The existing supply capacity is not sufficient to meet potential water demand.”
In the application form, it is clearly mentioned by Goa Industrial Development Corporation that the companies should make their own arrangement for water during the construction of factory building.
The lease deal signed with the companies states that GIDC shall not be liable or responsible for the supply of water to the SEZs as the corporation itself is dependent on government authorities for this.
Yet, the Goa SEZ Policy 2006 states, “the SEZ authority shall ensure the provision of adequate water supply within the SEZ zones for SEZ units.”
Interestingly, the report on dynamic ground water resources of Goa prepared by Central Ground Water Board, South Western Region and Goa government’s water resources department, states that the net ground water availability of the state is 26,712.2 hectare metre and the existing gross ground water for domestic and industrial water supply is 3,266.87 hectare metre and irrigation is 3,943.83 hectare metre.
The report adds that the allocation for domestic and industrial water supply for next 25 years is 4,288.39 hectare metre, while for future irrigation development is 18,480.20 hectare metre.
In other words, according to this report prepared in 2005, even without SEZs Goa would be exploiting almost all of the existing ground water resource.
If you are one of those willing to overlook the water problem for potential employment opportunities, then there is some other disturbing news.
In their application Peninsula stated that they would employ 15 M pharms “non-Goans” in managerial positions, while a majority of Goans (about 85) would be employed in the unskilled and other staff.
June 14, The Times of India, Goa edition
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Goa- SEZ units will quaff much water
SEZ units will quaff much water
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Even as scientific reports assert that the existing water resources are insufficient to meet the potential water demand, the three notified Special Economic Zones would be an additional burden.
Information sought under RTI and available with anti SEZ activists reveals that in their application K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd had stated that their per day water requirement would be 40 lakh litres per day, while ‘under formation’ Peninsula Research Centre Pvt Ltd’s requirement of water would be 25,000 litres daily. Interestingly, Meditab never filled out the application form, but sent only a letter. Hence no details about their daily water requirement are available.
The summary report on the Study on Augmentation of Water Supply and Sanitation for the Goa state prepared by Japan International Co-operation Agency states that there is a clear need for additional water supply in Goa, especially for cities, industrial estates and tourism resorts in the southern districts of Goa. Two of the SEZs are in South Goa.
According to the report, Goa gets a total of 391 million litres daily (MLD) from the 12 water treatment plants in the state. Mormugao taluka, where these SEZs will be situated, gets water from Selaulim water treatment plant, which also supplies 160 MLD to three other talukas in the South.
Tiswadi and Ponda receive their share of water from Opa which releases 112 MLD of water. The report states, “the PWD is currently facing a number of technical problems across Goa’s water supply schemes, extending from the water source to service connections.”
The report further states, “The current average per capita consumption for urban areas is currently 144 litres per capita per day (lpcd) and for rural areas is 88 lpcd”.
It adds that the current per capita consumption for urban and rural areas in the state already exceeds the standard consumption rate of 135 lpcd in urban areas and 70 lpcd in rural areas.
However, most importat is the following sentence in the report: “The existing supply capacity is not sufficient to meet potential water demand.”
In the application form, it is clearly mentioned by Goa Industrial Development Corporation that the companies should make their own arrangement for water during the construction of factory building.
The lease deal signed with the companies states that GIDC shall not be liable or responsible for the supply of water to the SEZs as the corporation itself is dependent on government authorities for this.
Yet, the Goa SEZ Policy 2006 states, “the SEZ authority shall ensure the provision of adequate water supply within the SEZ zones for SEZ units.”
Interestingly, the report on dynamic ground water resources of Goa prepared by Central Ground Water Board, South Western Region and Goa government’s water resources department, states that the net ground water availability of the state is 26,712.2 hectare metre and the existing gross ground water for domestic and industrial water supply is 3,266.87 hectare metre and irrigation is 3,943.83 hectare metre.
The report adds that the allocation for domestic and industrial water supply for next 25 years is 4,288.39 hectare metre, while for future irrigation development is 18,480.20 hectare metre.
In other words, according to this report prepared in 2005, even without SEZs Goa would be exploiting almost all of the existing ground water resource.
If you are one of those willing to overlook the water problem for potential employment opportunities, then there is some other disturbing news.
In their application Peninsula stated that they would employ 15 M pharms “non-Goans” in managerial positions, while a majority of Goans (about 85) would be employed in the unskilled and other staff.
June 14,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: Even as scientific reports assert that the existing water resources are insufficient to meet the potential water demand, the three notified Special Economic Zones would be an additional burden.
Information sought under RTI and available with anti SEZ activists reveals that in their application K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd had stated that their per day water requirement would be 40 lakh litres per day, while ‘under formation’ Peninsula Research Centre Pvt Ltd’s requirement of water would be 25,000 litres daily. Interestingly, Meditab never filled out the application form, but sent only a letter. Hence no details about their daily water requirement are available.
The summary report on the Study on Augmentation of Water Supply and Sanitation for the Goa state prepared by Japan International Co-operation Agency states that there is a clear need for additional water supply in Goa, especially for cities, industrial estates and tourism resorts in the southern districts of Goa. Two of the SEZs are in South Goa.
According to the report, Goa gets a total of 391 million litres daily (MLD) from the 12 water treatment plants in the state. Mormugao taluka, where these SEZs will be situated, gets water from Selaulim water treatment plant, which also supplies 160 MLD to three other talukas in the South.
Tiswadi and Ponda receive their share of water from Opa which releases 112 MLD of water. The report states, “the PWD is currently facing a number of technical problems across Goa’s water supply schemes, extending from the water source to service connections.”
The report further states, “The current average per capita consumption for urban areas is currently 144 litres per capita per day (lpcd) and for rural areas is 88 lpcd”.
It adds that the current per capita consumption for urban and rural areas in the state already exceeds the standard consumption rate of 135 lpcd in urban areas and 70 lpcd in rural areas.
However, most importat is the following sentence in the report: “The existing supply capacity is not sufficient to meet potential water demand.”
In the application form, it is clearly mentioned by Goa Industrial Development Corporation that the companies should make their own arrangement for water during the construction of factory building.
The lease deal signed with the companies states that GIDC shall not be liable or responsible for the supply of water to the SEZs as the corporation itself is dependent on government authorities for this.
Yet, the Goa SEZ Policy 2006 states, “the SEZ authority shall ensure the provision of adequate water supply within the SEZ zones for SEZ units.”
Interestingly, the report on dynamic ground water resources of Goa prepared by Central Ground Water Board, South Western Region and Goa government’s water resources department, states that the net ground water availability of the state is 26,712.2 hectare metre and the existing gross ground water for domestic and industrial water supply is 3,266.87 hectare metre and irrigation is 3,943.83 hectare metre.
The report adds that the allocation for domestic and industrial water supply for next 25 years is 4,288.39 hectare metre, while for future irrigation development is 18,480.20 hectare metre.
In other words, according to this report prepared in 2005, even without SEZs Goa would be exploiting almost all of the existing ground water resource.
If you are one of those willing to overlook the water problem for potential employment opportunities, then there is some other disturbing news.
In their application Peninsula stated that they would employ 15 M pharms “non-Goans” in managerial positions, while a majority of Goans (about 85) would be employed in the unskilled and other staff.
June 14,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Goa decides to revoke SEZ land allotment
Goa decides to revoke SEZ land allotment
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The Goa Industrial Development Corporation in a board meeting on Friday resolved to cancel and revoke allotments of land and execution of leases in connection with establishment of special economic zones (SEZ) of seven companies.
The decision was prompted by a government directive to the GIDC a week ahead of the government filing a reply before the high court in a petition filed by the SEZ promoters.
The letter, on behalf of the government, was sent by the director of industries, trade and commerce, who is also a GIDC board member, to the GIDC managing director on June 12, 2008. In the last couple of days TOI has been highlighting the irregularities in the entire issue.
The decision was taken when under Section 16 of the GIDC, the government directed the corporation not to allot any land owned by it to any party by way of lease or otherwise for the purpose of establishing SEZs. It also directed the GIDC to take steps in accordance with the law to cancel or revoke the allotments by way of leases made to the developers for the purpose of setting up or establishing SEZs. The government has asked for immediate compliance of these directions. The state government has also directed the GIDC not to allot or lease GIDC owned lands within the industrial area for the purpose of establishing SEZs.
GIDC chairman Chandrakant Kavlekar said, “We have taken legal opinion in the matter and have the powers to withdraw the land allotted to these companies.” Other board members who attended the meeting include Nitin Kunkolienkar, Atul Kane and Prisco Sequeira. Sources in the government said that the government would soon issue a notification withdrawing the land allotted from the seven SEZs. The seven companies include the three notified SEZs — Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd at Keri, K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd at Verna and Peninsula Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd. The other companies to whom land had been allotted and would now be withdrawn include Paradigm Logistics & Distribution Pvt Ltd, Inox Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd, Planetview Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd and Maxgrow Finlease Pvt Ltd.
June 14,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair | TNN
Panaji: The Goa Industrial Development Corporation in a board meeting on Friday resolved to cancel and revoke allotments of land and execution of leases in connection with establishment of special economic zones (SEZ) of seven companies.
The decision was prompted by a government directive to the GIDC a week ahead of the government filing a reply before the high court in a petition filed by the SEZ promoters.
The letter, on behalf of the government, was sent by the director of industries, trade and commerce, who is also a GIDC board member, to the GIDC managing director on June 12, 2008. In the last couple of days TOI has been highlighting the irregularities in the entire issue.
The decision was taken when under Section 16 of the GIDC, the government directed the corporation not to allot any land owned by it to any party by way of lease or otherwise for the purpose of establishing SEZs. It also directed the GIDC to take steps in accordance with the law to cancel or revoke the allotments by way of leases made to the developers for the purpose of setting up or establishing SEZs. The government has asked for immediate compliance of these directions. The state government has also directed the GIDC not to allot or lease GIDC owned lands within the industrial area for the purpose of establishing SEZs.
GIDC chairman Chandrakant Kavlekar said, “We have taken legal opinion in the matter and have the powers to withdraw the land allotted to these companies.” Other board members who attended the meeting include Nitin Kunkolienkar, Atul Kane and Prisco Sequeira. Sources in the government said that the government would soon issue a notification withdrawing the land allotted from the seven SEZs. The seven companies include the three notified SEZs — Meditab Specialities Pvt Ltd at Keri, K Raheja Corp Pvt Ltd at Verna and Peninsula Pharma Research Centre Pvt Ltd. The other companies to whom land had been allotted and would now be withdrawn include Paradigm Logistics & Distribution Pvt Ltd, Inox Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd, Planetview Mercantile Co Pvt Ltd and Maxgrow Finlease Pvt Ltd.
June 14,2008, The Times of India, Goa edition
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
